I quit public school in 8th grade, but do not consider myself a high school drop out, rather I say I was unschooled. However, I was in charge of my education and there are no real records of anything except two standardized tests I was required to take in 8 and 9th grade. Interestingly enough, I am the only of my friends to want to attend college. My friends who graduated high school are all in dead end jobs. Where do I need to start? I have one credit at a community college, but it was for massage therapy. Otherwise I have literally nothing. I have some experience with school, but non-accredieted. I studied midwifery for a few years, and do still plan on being a midwife. I would like to attend college for writing though, if possible. If not that, then art or even forestry. Nursing is also a possiblity, though slim. I'm all over the place aren't I? I am also quite poor but with a wealthy parent. How will this work for aid? My friend suggests waiting until I'm 25 to attend college, which is fine with me as long as it is better I wait. If that is the case what should I do in the mean time? We have a community college in my town, I could go for Gen Ed I suppose or random classes, but what would you guys suggest? Keep in mind I have not been in a real classroom setting for around 8 years. PS - I do not have my GED, but I could attend community college as a homeschooled graduate, would it be beneficial to get my GED or keep it at homeschooled? I would assume if I finish community college my high school education would be irrelivant.
A GED will open the doors for future education. Wont be able to take a focused program without one. At community college you'll be allowed to take single class, usually a a PE or other 'fun' class. Check with your county school system on a adult ed, GED study programs. Most times if you feel good about it you can just take the test. If you fail one or two. You will know where the areas your weak in and study for those. In all the years I've worked and schooled, the only time I was ever asked for my H.S. diploma was when I enter college. Good Luck....... PS; You said you were home-schooled. Were you enrolled in a recognized home schooling program. We have many differnt programs here in Alaska. I know several kids that were home-schooled and when they completed their studies they received a diploma.
I was in a recognized home school program the first year, but it was horrible and defeated the whole purpose of why I chose not to be in public school. I was by all means unschooled. Truly my only regret is that I did not keep records otherwise I would change nothing. I guess my main issue with taking the GED is that I feel like I'm settling or saying my education was not "good enough". I feel I am better educated than many of my public schooled friends. I'm sure of it, really. I'm looking into Unity College in Maine. They seem very accepting of homeschooled students, I'm just wondering how I should go about it as an unschooled student, and an older one at that (I'm nearly 22). The only subject I have trouble with has always been math. Somehow even with being absolutely horrible at math I have studied a semi-medical (I hate to call it medical but you know) career of midwifery which involves MUCH math. I really do go back and forth on this. I know I want to be a midwife and an herbalist, I know I will do fine without college and be happy. I want the experience, sometimes I want to prove to my father I can do it. I would like it for the writing experience. Unity is nice because it is outdoors oriented and that is perfect for me. I do not do well with standard education. Anyways, thanks for your help! I guess I should overcome my judgment of the GED, it just sucks I have to take it to prove myself!
Advaya: Your hardly in the older student status, I was closer starting to school full time at 29. My girlfriend was in my class and she was 35. Careers are about proving yourself, whether it be grades on tests, evaluations on your work performance. Even at McDonald's you start out dumping garbage and mopping floors, if you prove yourself you will get moved up to making fries or milkshakes. I spent 5 years in school to get my B.N.S. , nursing science. To become a midwife you will first have to get a license as a LVN , LPN or RN. Befor the midwife program. Befor you can get into one of those you'll need your GED. You cant even apply without it.. Good Luck........Alaskan
Oh, about midwifery, that is something I've been doing for a few years now. In Virginia you do not need to be a nurse, rather I find being a nurse hindering to it rather than a good thing! I have NO interest in being a Certified Nurse Midwife, I would be either direct entry or possibly be certified as a Certified Professional Midwife. As far as education for that I would apprentice with a midwife for a quite a while, along with study. I studied through Womancraft midwifery for a year, but chose not to do the advanced year this time because I plan to postpone being a midwife for a while, until I've had my own children. I was going to El Paso to a birth center at the end of the year, but since I dropped the advanced course that won't be happening. Just wanted to clarify that you do not need to be a nurse to be a midwife!!!!!!!!! There are nurse-midwives, but the ones I've met see birth as too medical for my liking, and there were midwives well before there were nurses! My interest in nursing has nothing to do with midwifery but rather probably in geriatrics. So, I'm thinking my goal for now is too.... get my ged, apply to the local community college and get general ed requirements out of the way, while keeping involved in birth to retain all I've learned, study herbalism some more, and then probably go on to a college in 2 years. Ultimately I want to homestead, be a midwife and herbalist and a writer. I would like to find a school with a sustainablity core, so I can take classes in alternative building and such. I have everything figured out pretty much, I just am not sure the order I should have done them in. I am sort of regretting not taking the advanced year in midwifery but I just really really feel as a woman without children I am not the best midwife I could be so I am postponing. Other than writing I just can't find much that would be useful to me in college, but at the same time I want to go..... what to do...what to do..
